Checkwriter



March 6, 1928. 1,661,384

w. B. PAYNE CHECK WRITER Filed Feb. 9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WA LTE R B. PA YN E BYZ- 51 ug 4 1m ATTORNEY March 6, 1928. 1,661,384

w. B. PAYNE 7 CHECK WRITER Filed Feb. 9. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY March 6, 1928. 1,661,384

w. B. PAYNE CHECK WRITER Filed Feb. 9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 s 81 W INVENTOR.

WALTER B. PAYNE 9 ATTORNEY.

March 6, 1928.

W. B. PAYNE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WALTER 5. PAYNE W W h ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,661,384 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER B. PAYNE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE TODD COMPANY, INC., OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

CHECKWRITEB.

Application filed February 9, 1925. Serial No. 7,872.

The invention relates to printing apparatus, and more'particularly to the varlety of hand stamps adapted for. printing legends upon checks or other commercial papers, 6 and commonly known as check writers. One object of the invention is to provide a convenient machine of the class described, having few and simple parts, operating in a reliable manner and capable of being manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described, with simplified and improved mechanism for feeding the work and also for accurately centering the type wheel in printing position.

Another object is the provision of a readily accessible and detachable ink roll for the type wheel, together with convenient means for containing a supply of ink and for applying the same to the ink tell from time to time to insure a fully inked and efficient protective impression.

These and other objects of the invention 2 are fully described in the following specifications, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and illustrating one embodiment of the invention, in which i Fi 1 is the top view of a machine em bodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 in Fig. 4 showing the arrangement of the interior parts;

Fig. 4' is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, the parts being in initial position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the feed roll cam slide and index finger;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on line 66 of Fig.4 showing the base portion and parts mounted therein;

Fig. 7 is similar to.Fig. 4 with parts in different positions;

Fig. 8 1s a perspective view showing the feed roll arm and roller;

Fig. 9 is adetailed view taken on line 99 of Fig. 4 showing the feeding mechanism in one position;

Fig. 10 is a development of the type wheel periphery;

Fig. 11 shows a bank check bearmg an impression made by the machine;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the type wheel and platen, taken on line Fig. 13 is similar to Fig. 12 but taken on line 13-13 of Fig." 6;

Fig. 14 is a view of the ink container means with the parts separated to show them in detail;

Fig. 15 is a detailed view of the ink container closure and attached means for transferring ink to the ink roll.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises preferably a casing enclosing and supporting the operating parts, with a low base portion, 10, and an overhanging upper portion 11 partially separated from the base portion by a work receiving slot 12 above the bed'13 of the base portion 10 for supporting the work.

The impressing means comprises a platen level 14, Figs. 4 and 6, supported for rocking movement in a vertical plane by a shaft 15 journaled at its ends in the side walls of the base portion of the casing. The forward end of this lever is provided. with a head 16 in which is secured in any convenient manner a platen 17 in the form of a bar, the upper side of which forms an impression surface. The work bed 13 is provided with a slot through which this platen bar 17 is adapted to be raised for impressing the work against the type forms in the easing above, as shown in Fig. 7. The rear end of the platen lever, 14, has pivotally connected thereto at 18 a link 19 which is pivoted at 20 at its upper end, to a toggle lever 21 fixed on a shaft 22. The shaft 22 is the main operating shaft for the impressing mechanism and extends without the casing at one side thereof and has fixed thereon an operating crank 23 carrying at its end an operating handle 24. Links 19 and 21 thus form toggle members for raising the platen and afford the substantial pressure desired for inking and shredding the work as later described. In order to normally maintain the platen in lower position, there is provided a spring 25 coiled about the shaft 22 and bearing at its ends against the toggle lever 21 and the rear of the casing. It will be apparent that under the action of this spring the platen is nor mally held in retracted or lowered position with the handle 24 raised in initial position and that handle 24 may be swung forwardl and downwardly to raise the platen throng the printing bed and press the work-against loosely embracing shaft 26, said yoke being the type forms in the case above which will now be described.

Journaled at its ends in the side walls of the upper forward portion of the casing is a shaft 26 having fixed thereon a type carrier wheel 27 provided on its periphery with a plurality of separate type forms 28 extending side by side in spacing relation parallel with each other and with the axis of the type wheel.

The emlmdiment of the invention herein shown is as adapted for printing upon checks, drafts or similar commercial papers the exact amount for which such papers are drawn, expressed primarily in figures with complementary words and other symbols in closely spaced relation as shown in Fig. 11. The type forms 28 preferably include forms for printing the figures from O to 9 inclusive, together with complementary symbols such as the dollar sign and the words Only and And, Cts. and the like adapted for printing any monetary value in a distinct and substantial manner defying erasure. The initial or limiting character for a legend, such as the word Only or the dollar sign with an arrow head, are preferably made substantially longer than the individual figures, as shown, for increasing the difficulty of the unauthorized prefixing of a figure to the proper amount.

The end of the type carrier shaft 26 is extended beyond the side of the casing, and has fixed thereto a knob 29 conveniently formed for manually turning or setting the type wheel so as to bring the desired type form selectively and successively into printing position at the lower side of the wheel above the platen. In order to indicate the position of rotary adjustment of the type wheel, or, in other words, to show which of the type forms is in printing position, there is provided an indicating means comprising a dial 30, Fig. 1, formed on the periphery of one end of the type wheel, and having thereon figures and other suitable symbols for representing the respective type forms, these symbols on the dial being so arranged with reference to the type form that when any given type form is in printing position as described. its corresponding symbol shows opposite the indicating marker 31 on the side of the casing 11.

In order to maintain the shaft .26 against endwise movement in its hearings in the casing. and also to simplify assembly, the shaft 26 has a groove 33 turned in its left end where it passes through the casing and a semi-circular projection 32 on a presser roll bracket 34 is inserted in said groove, thereby locking the shaft against endwise movement.

To center and lock the type wheel with the s *lCCfQd form in accurate printing position, here is provided a yoke 35 having forks 36 pivoted at its other end on stud 20 of the toggle members for actuation thereby. Extending from the upper forked projection 36 of the yoke is an car 37 having a formedover portion 38 which engages in the slots 39 of the type wheel. The slots are arranged between the type forms, and the metal beneath the ends of the type is cut away to form a point 40 which allows the portions 38 to center and enter the slots 39 if the type wheel has not been accurately positioned, and to lock the wheel in position during printing.

The means for inking the type forms comprises an ink roll 42 journaled on a spindle 43 fixed at one end on and extending horizontally from a bracket 44 pivot-ally supported on a spindle 45 carried by a bracket 46 which in turn is fixed to a closure 47. The latter is pivotally supported on the casing at 48 so as to close an opening 49 formed in the upper wall of the casing, a finger piece 50 being provided for convenience in raising the cover plate and inking roll for obtaining access to the latter to clean and ink it, as shown in Fig. 7. A spring 51 is provided bearing against the cover plate and against a lug 52 on the bracket 44 so as to urge the inking roll into position to contact with the type during rotation of the type wheel when the cover plate is closed. To guide the ink roll to and from operating ongagment with the type wheel as the closure 47 is raised and lowered, bracket 44 is provided with a wiper extension 44 for guiding contact with the periphery of one end of the type wheel. The ink roll, for the sake of convenience, is readily removable from the end of the spindle 43, by moving the pivoted bracket 44 against the tension spring 51 so that the ink roll 42 clears the projecting ear or keeper 41 of the bracket 46.

The printing face of the type and the impression surface of the platen are preferably corrugated or otherwise formed so that the fibers of the paper will be disrupted and in condition to readily absorb the printing ink from the type face. and to become thoroughly impregnated thereby. The printing is thus incorporated into the body of the paper itself and thereby made more difiicnlt to erase. In the present instance, the type has grooves cut substantially circumferentially of the type wheel. The platen bar 17 is formed with two intersecting sets of grooves, the grooves in one direction being preferably cut to a greater depth than the other set of grooves.

Referring more specifically to Fig. 13. the sectional portion 53 represents the type face showing the cut of the grooves. The portion 54 shows the platen and one set of grooves which is the deeper set referred to. Now, referring to Fig. 12, the portion 53 Inn again shows the type face in section but in a plane parallel with the grooves, and also shows the other set of grooves in the platen 54. Cutting the grooves in this manner, the impression face of the platen is formed with a multiplicity of oblong flat areas or lands, each having its major extent parallel with the type grooves. It has been found that such construction of the impression surfaces affords more complete inking of the work and more intensive shredding with a smaller expenditure of operating power.

The feeding mechanism preferably includes one or more rotary feed wheels 55, a pair of such wheels being shown in the present case as carried by a hub 65 fixedly pinned on a shaft 56 journalled in the base portion of the casing. These feed wheels project slightly at the top of their peripheries through slots provided for that purpose, in the printing bed 13 so as to engage the under side of the work. The presser roll bracket 34 previously described as fixed to the casing above the work slot is provided with extensions 55 carrying a spindle 58. Pivotally supported on the spindle 58 is a clip 59 having at one end a convenient finger piece 60 and at its other end a pair of spaced pressure rolls 63 arranged to bear against the upper side of the work and hold the same in contact with the feed wheels 55. One or both of these sets of rolls may be knurled to assist in gripping the work and a spring 64 coiled about the spindle 58 serves to urge the presser rolls 63 downward against the work. A slight pressure on the finger piece 60 serves to raise the roll 63 to permit the insertion or the removal of the work. I

The means for actuating the feed wheels 55 includes an arm 64", Figs; 6 and 8, carried by a hub 65* loosely mounted on shaft 56, a roller 66 being secured to the opposite end of the arm by a stud 67. A stud 68 rigidly secured to platen lever 14 operates in the slot 69 of arm 64. A shaft 7 O mounted at its ends in the side walls of the base carries the cam slide 71 provided with angularly turned end portions 72 and 73 formed with bearings slidably embracing the shaft. The slide 71 has a cam portion 74 extending angularly from portion 73, this cam 74 being acted upon by the roll 66. The slide 71 also has an upwardly projecting nose 79, to which is riveted the flexible index finger 75 slightly curved at its forward end. A tension spring 76 is secured to slide 71 at one end, and at the other to an ear on a bracket 77 fixed on the base, the spring tending to maintain the slide cam 74 against roller 66. Movement of the latter and its arm 64 by the movement of the platen lever serves to reciprocate the slide 71.

The shaft 56 previously referred to is journaled at its ends in bracket 77 and has a flattened forward end to which is rigidly 3 secured the index disk 81. Secured to this disk are a series of uniformly spaced pinsv 82. These pins are acted upon by the reciprocating finger 75 forming in efl'ect with the latter a pawl and ratchet. mechanism which rotates the feed wheels 55 intermittently between impressions. The cam slide nose 79 has a poi'nt'79 which also engages pins 82 to prevent overthrow, Fig. 3, while the friction of the parts prevents reverse turning of the feed wheels, although a pawl may be provided for that purpose if desired.

The impressing mechanism is provided with a simple and effective full stroke mechanism best illustrated in Figures 4, 7 and 16, for insuring a full impressing stroke of the platen, so that the paper must be completely shredded and impregnated with ink. This mechanism is combined in an advantageous manner with the toggle members by which the platen is actuated comprising preferably a retainer or irregular shaped arm adapted to be struck up from sheet metal. This arm ispivoted at its upper end on the shaft 22 of the operating handle and is connected by a tension spring 91 with a latch 92 in the form of a sheet metal arm pivoted on the spindle 48 which carries the ink roll closure 47. Retainer 90 is formed with a shoulder 93 adapted to engage behind the pivot pin 18 connecting the rear end of the platen lever with the toggle link 19 when the rear end of the lever is partially lowered to raise the platen into engagement with the work. In this way the platen is locked against release during its movement toward the work so that a full impression of the latter must be made before it can be released. When the toggle links 19 and 21 have been fully straightened as shown in Figure 7 with the platen in full engagement with the work, the pivot pin 20 connecting these links engages retainer 90 to swing the same rcarwardly against the tension of spring 91. so that a lug 94 on the retainer is engaged under the shoulder 95 on latch 92 to latch the retainer out of the patlrof the platen mechanism so that the latter can be returned to initial position. Upon return of the toggle links to initial position the same pivot pin 20 strikes the lower end 96 of the latch as shown in Figure '4, thereby tripping the latch and releasing the retainer for movement to position for operation during the subsequent impressing movement, the same spring 91 actuating both the retainer and its latch 92.

The invention comprises a reservoir inking means which will now be described. The ink reservoir is in the form of a tubular member 92, Figs. 4 and 14, having at one end a seat portion 92 in which the plug 83 is inserted, the edge of the tube being lllti spun over to form an ink tight joint. The plug 83 has a reduced portion 84, which is threaded and provided with a screw driver slot. The threaded portion 84 is adapted to be screwed into a hole 85 tapped into the base portion 10 (see Fig. 6), thereby detachably securing the ink container in an accessible position on the exterior of the machine. The container has a threaded upper end portion 96 onto which the cap 87 is detachably screwed. Cap 87 is hollowed out at 88, Fig. 15, and provided with ink applying means in the form of a brush 89 inserted in recess 98 with the metal of the cap spun over the brush head to thereby secure said brush rigidly to the cap. The brush is in the form of a resilient sheet metal strip bent upon itself with its arms formed outwardly, then again inwardly to bring their slotted ends adjacent each other so as to retain a quantity of ink. When it is desired to reink the machine closure 47 is raised as in Fig. 7 to bring up the ink roll, and the cap 87 is unscrewed from the container. In turning the cap in this operation the ink is automatically stirred and at the same time the brush picks up a supply of ink which may be cleanly and conveniently applied to the ink roll. may then be returned to operative position by lowering the closure 47 and the container cap replaced, thus completing the usually troublesome reinking operatio n quickly without any smearing of the ink.

The operation of the machine will be clear from the above explanation in connection with the descrpition of its construction, the work being inserted in the work slot against the usual guide lugs 86, in position to receive the impression. The type wheel is then adjusted by means of knob 29. with the aid of the indicating device, to bring the initial type to its printing position. The operating, handle 24 is then dopressed, thereby straightening the toggle link 19, rocking the platen lever and raising the platen so as to press the work against the type which has been inked during the setting movement of the type wheel by the inking roller 42. Upon the rocking ot the platen lever and straightening of the. toggle link 19, the centering and locking means 37 is also actuated, the lug 38 entering the proper slot 39 of the type wheel for this purpose. The operating lever is then released when the spring 25 retracts the platen, freeing the work for the feeding operation which is produced by the actuation of the platen lever. The raising of the platen and stud (38 swings arm (34 upwardly to operate the cam slide 71 through the roller 66 to the position shown in Fig. 9. During such movement of the slide 71 spring 76 is tensioned and the resilient indexing finger 7 5 passes idly over the pins 82 of the The latter wheel 81 to the position as shown. After the impression is made and upon the return movement of the platen lever the spring 76 returns the slide to initial position, finger 75 engaging one of the pins 82 and thereby rotating the wheel 81 and in turn shaft with its feed rollers 55. The nosed portion 79 of said slide enters between the pins 82 and prevents an overthrow of the index wheel. The next word is then selected and impressed in the same manner until the entire legend has been printed upon the, paper, after which the finger piece (30 is depressed to release the work which is then withdrawn with the desired impression completed.

It is to be noted that with this particular arrangement of type forms, it is feasible to print initial and terminal limiting characters of varying lengths, together with figures and other characters of a different and uniform length in the body of the legend, using a feeding mechanism which gives a uniform feed for advancing the work between impressions. This follows from the fact that the feed spacing is measured after each impression from the end rather than the beginning of the previous impression.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a printing apparatus, a type carrier, a shaft on which said carrier is rotarily supported For bringing a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position. a platen for cooperation with the selected forms, actuating means comprising toggle members for effecting a relative impressing movement of the carrier and platen. and centering means supported and guided by the carrier shaft and having a connection with said toggle members for actuating said means to center the carrier in selected position.

2. In a printing apparatus, a type carrier. a shaft on which said carrier is rotatarily supported for bringing a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position. a platen for cooperation with the selected forms, actuating means comprising toggle members for effecting a relative impressing movement of the carrier and platen, and centering means comprising a yoke slidably embracing said shaft, cooperating parts on said yoke and carrier for centering the latter in selected position. and a onnection between said toggle members and yoke. for actuating the latter during said impressing movement.

3. In a printing apparatus, a type carrier mo 'able to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position. a pivoted lever provided with a platen for cooperation with the selectcd forms, toggle actuating means for said lever, centering means connected with and actuated by said toggle means for centering the carrier in selected position and feeding means connected with and actuated by said lever for advancing the work between the Impressions.

4. In a printing apparatus, a type carrier movable to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing posltion, a pivoted lever provided with a platen for cooperation with the selected forms, actuating means for said lover, a work feeding roller, a slide having a pawl and ratchet connection with said roller, and a connection between said lever and slide for reciprocating the latter to feed the work.

5. In a printing apparatus, a type carrier movable to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position, a pivoted lever provided with a platen for coperation with the selected forms, actuating means for said lever, a work feeding roller, a reciprocating slide provided with means for rotating said roller, and a connection between said lever and slide comprising cam means for reciprocating said slide by the actuation of said lever.

6. In a printing apparatus, a type carrier movable to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position, a pivoted lever provided with a platen for cooperation with the selected forms, actuating means for said lever, a work feeding roller, a reciprocating slide provided with means for rotating said roller, a pivoted arm oscillated by said lever and cam means connecting said lever and slide for reciprocating the latter.

7. In a printing apparatus, a type carrier movable to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position, a pivoted lever provided with a platen for cooperation with the selected forms, actuating means for said lever, a work feeding roller, a reciprocating slide having a pawl and ratchet connection with said roller, a pivoted arm oscillated by said lever, and cam means connecting said lever, and slide for reciprocating the latter.

8. In a printing apparatus, a frame formed with a work receiving 'slot, a type carrier movably supported on the frame above said slot for bringing a plurality of type forms selectively to printin position, a lever pivotally carried by the f rame below said slot and provided with a platen for cooperation with said type forms, actuating means for said lever, a roller for feeding the work, a slide reciprocating on the frame below said slot and provided with means for rotating said roller, and a connection between said lever and slide for reciprocating the latter.

9. In a rinting apparatus, a frame having at its orward side an inwardly extending work receiving slot, a type carrier adjustable on the frame above said slot to bring a pluralit of type forms thereon selectively to printing position, a pivoted lever on the frame extending from front to rear below said slot and having at its forward end a platen for cooperation with said type forms actuating means for said lever, a roller for feeding the work through the slot, a slide reciprocating on the frame below said slot across the forward end of said lever actuating means connecting said lever and slide, and a connection between said slide and roller for rotating the latter.

10. In a printing apparatus, a frame having at its forward side an inwardly extending work receiving slot, a type carrier adjustable on the frame above said slot to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position, a pivoted lever on the frame extending from front to rear below said slot and having at its forward end a platen for cooperation with said type forms, actuating means for said lever, a roller for feeding the work through the slot, a slide reciprocating on the frame below said slot across the forward end ofsaid lever, a pivoted arm actuated by connection with said lever, cam means connecting said arm and slide for reciprocating the same, and pawl and ratchet means connecting said slide and roller for rotating the latter.

11. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a type wheel rotatable thereon to bring a plurality of type forms selectively to printin position, a platen for cooperation with sai type wheel, actuating means for effecting a relative printing movement of said wheel and platen, a pivoted closure for an opening in said frame, a bracket pivoted on the under side of said closure, an ink roll on said bracket for inking said type forms, and a wiper on said bracket for engagement with said wheel to guide the ink roll into operative contact with said wheel during opening and closing of said closure.

12. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a type wheel rotatable thereon to bring a plurality of type forms selectively to printing position, a platen for cooperation with said type wheel, actuating means for effecting a relative printing movement of said wheel and' platen, a pivoted closure for an o ening in said frame,

anink roll for said w eel, a bracket pivoted 1V,

and to clear the roll in another position of 1 the bracket to spindle.

13. In a printing apparatus, a type carpermit its removal from the rier movable to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position, a platen for cooperation with the selected forms, actuating means comprising toggle members for effecting impressing movement of said platen, a retainer for preventing premature return of said platen before said movement thereof is completed, a latch for temporarily holding said retainer in inactive position, and means on said toggle members. for moving said retainer to latch the same in active position and for subsequently moving said latch to release said retainer.

14. In a printing, apparatus, a type carrier movable to bring a plurality of type forms thereon selectively to printing position, a pivoted lever provided with a platen said retainer in inactive position during return of said lever after an impression, and means on said toggle members operative during an impressing movement to first move said retainer to latch the same and subsequently to move said latch to release said retainer for a subsequent impressing operation.

WALTER B. PAYNE. 

